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The weather finally beat everyone at Nelson's Saxton Oval yesterday as rain eventually forced a premature end to day one of the Central Stags' eighth round Plunket Shield cricket match against the Otago Volts.

Despite the early loss of experienced opening batsman Jamie How, the Stags had still managed to make healthy progress on a weather-affected day to reach 93-1 before play was finally abandoned.

Rain had twice forced the players from the field, with Stags opening batsman Ben Smith ending the day just seven runs short of a potential seventh first-class half century for the right-hander.

Earlier in the day, the Volts had enjoyed instant success after winning the toss, when How had his off stump uprooted by James McMillan for five in just the day's third over.

Their elation quickly dissipated however when McMillan's new ball partner, Blair Soper, was forced off with a hamstring injury at the start of the next over.

Smith and Carl Cachopa attempted to consolidate and had carried the total through to 44-1 off 18 overs at drinks when the first rain squall came, forcing the players from the field.

They eventually came back, having lost just over two hours' playing time. The pair batted steadily together, Otago missing an opportunity when Cachopa was dropped at first slip by Jesse Ryder off Jimmy Neesham on 28 at 76 for 1.

They'd added only 17 more runs before rain once again forced the players off the field in the 33rd over, Smith sitting on 43 and Cachopa on 36 at 93-1. The two batsmen had shown plenty of patience, Smith facing 113 balls and hitting seven fours, while Cachopa faced 77 balls and hit five fours.